'Mentalist' exec teases Hightower twist

The Mentalist creator Bruno Heller has revealed that Hightower will go into the field in a future episode.

He told TV Guide that the CBI boss (played by Aunjanue Ellis) will team up with Jane (Simon Baker) while his regular partner Lisbon recovers from an injury.

"Hightower gets a first-hand look at how Jane operates, and she becomes less enamoured with just letting him do his thing," he explained. "Once you have to deal with it in the moment, it's not as easy as the theory."

Heller added that Lisbon (Robin Tunney) will grow jealous of Jane's new partnership.

"From Lisbon's perspective, it's kind of a little worrying and jealous-making that Jane and Hightower get along," he said.